enseigner
/ɑ̃.sɛ.ɲe/
To teach in French can be expressed as enseigner or apprendre.
Meaning: to pass on knowledge (verb)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| enseigner | /ɑ̃.sɛ.ɲe/ /ɑ̃.se.ɲe/ |
| apprendre | /a.pʁɑ̃dʁ/ |
The primary way to express the act of passing on knowledge or instruction is through the verb enseigner.
Which one should you use?
While enseigner is used when the focus is on the act of instruction or the subject matter being taught, apprendre is used more colloquially to mean teaching someone a skill. Note that the primary meaning of apprendre is actually 'to learn'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using enseigner, you must use the preposition à before the person being taught (enseigner quelque chose à quelqu'un).
How do you pronounce it?
/ɑ̃.sɛ.ɲe/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using apprendre to mean 'to teach' in formal contexts, as this is a common error for English speakers. Use enseigner instead for professional instruction.
Did you know?
- The word apprendre shares its DNA with the English word 'apprehend', as both stem from the Latin 'apprendere', meaning 'to seize' or 'to grasp'.
- The French verb enseigner is a direct cognate to the Spanish 'enseñar' and the Italian 'insegnare', showing a shared Romance history of instruction.
- Because apprendre can mean both 'to learn' and 'to teach', the meaning of a sentence often depends entirely on whether a direct object is present.
Examples in context
- Que peux-tu m'enseigner ?What can you teach me?This sentence is useful for asking what someone is able to teach you using enseigner.Tatoeba #1639045 by sacredceltic, translation #1638587 by Spamster
- Tom enseignera le français.Tom will teach French.This sentence demonstrates the future tense of enseigner.Tatoeba #9159303 by Julien_PDC, translation #6440277 by CK
- Je peux t'apprendre à lire.I can teach you how to read.This sentence shows how apprendre can be used to mean teaching a skill.Tatoeba #11110584 by Aiji, translation #1739411 by Amastan
- Ma mère enseigne le français à l'université.My mother teaches French at the university.
- Mon frère m'apprend à jouer du piano.My brother is teaching me how to play the piano.
- Elle donne des cours de danse tous les samedis.She teaches dance classes every Saturday.
- 145 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are talking about their career goals.
- LucasJe voudrais enseigner l'histoire au lycée.I would like to teach history in high school.
- ManonC'est une excellente idée, Lucas !That is an excellent idea, Lucas!
- LucasEst-ce que tu peux m'aider pour mon diplôme ?Can you help me with my degree?
- ManonOui, je peux t'enseigner quelques méthodes.Yes, I can teach you a few methods.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “teach” translations and entries enseigner, apprendre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries apprendre, enseigner, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
